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Animal Services

Overview

The mission of the Office of Animal Control is to enforce city and state codes, rules, and regulations and to investigate animal neglect and cruelty cases for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of Baltimore’s human and animal residents.

The Office of Animal Control operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It receives an average of 65 calls a day and approximately 25,000 complaints annually.

Animal Control receives the majority of its complaints and cases through the city’s 311 system. Below are the categories for animal-related calls:

Animal in Danger/Injured/Abused/Neglected

Animal Attack - Against Human

Animal Attack - Against Another Animal

Aggressive Animal

Animal Trapped in Vacant Building

Wildlife (sick, injured or found inside living space)

Stray Held

Unsanitary conditions

Failure to Restrain

Barking Dog

Wild or Domestic Animal Trap Request

Dead Animal Pick-up (stray or wildlife)

Animal Protection

If you witness an animal being abused or an animal attack in progress, please call 911. If you are concerned about an animal being neglected or suspect abuse, please call 311 or access the Customer Service Request Online.

How to Apply for a Pet License

All cats and dogs over age six months must be licensed. Pet licensing is extremely important as a means of confirming that pets have been inoculated against Rabies. Rabies inoculation is necessary, even for pets that remain indoors, because bats frequently gain entry to homes and are then pursued by pets, making bites likely. Licensing helps reunite lost animals with their owners, and provides critically needed revenue to support open admission shelters, such as BARCS.

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)

In February 2009, Baltimore City implemented the Trap-Neuter-Return Program. Regulations defining the responsibilities of feral cat caregivers and the Animal Control Program were promulgated during this time also. Click here for the trap-neuter-return regulations.

BARCS and Community Cats of MD, Inc are the organizations operating Baltimore City’s TNR program. Please contact either of these organizations directly if you wish to participate and become a caregiver.

BARCS Community Cat Program

A Free spay/neuter and rabies vaccination program for outdoor cats in Baltimore City.

Have an outdoor cat colony in your neighborhood? Please call 443-240-8530 or email us at [email protected] to see how we can help you.